We just finished doing a job we have done annually for 9 years:
Herding Canada Geese.
In our part of the world, Geese molt during June, and cannot fly. Interestingly, this is also the time they hatch their young, so flightless goslings (cute!) are protected by parents that also cannot take to the air.
The geese know they can't fly, so they tend to stay pretty close to water, and when threatened, the whole bunch is "on the pond".
The State Department of Natural Resources hires us to come with the R22 and run these critters off the water and into temporary fencing, so they can count and band them.
Birds without a band get one. Those birds also have their sex determined and noted. Older birds frequently have bands already, and those are documented so the DNR folks have an idea of the birds' history.
The bands we put on the geese are reported by hunters that shoot them, furthering the DNR's knowledge about this natural resource.
To do this job, we literally use the helicopter as a sheepdog, herding the uncooperative, (and sometimes obstreperous) animals out of the water and onto the bank to be surrounded by DNR biologists.
These guys are experts.......they love their jobs and are fun to be around.
We take a great deal of risk with the helicopter, hovering and maneuvering over water for extended periods to drive the geese aground.
But these DNR guys have learned to trust us enough to come under the rotor system during the last part of the drive to help push the geese out of the water! If they didn't take this risk, we'd lose a percentage of birds on each drive.
It's wonderful to know they have that much trust in us as pilots, but it's sobering to think we need to be that "situationally aware" of where our main and tail rotors are in relation to the 2, 3, or 4 guys that may be helping to make that final push.
There is lots of risk in the flying.......the hovering over water, trees and brush on the shore that the birds love to hide in..........the risk of sticking the tail rotor into that brush or dipping it into the water at such a low hover.
But at the end of the day when we are talking about the work, everyone is excited and complimentary about our skills, and about the overall job that we are doing. It makes ya proud to be a part of this team.
But we can't be complacent. Just one false move could mean disaster.....and it has happened before to predecessors.........two helicopters have ended up under water doing this job.
That's why it is doubly surprising that these guys are willing to do what they do with us!
This year, goose numbers were down because it has been exceedingly dry in this area.
We still moved over 2,000 birds in 3 days.
And when the work is done, we start looking forward to coming back next year!
30 June 2005
Democranks vs. Repuglicans
Roger L. Simon strikes again.........boy I wish I could put thoughts to paper like this:
http://www.rogerlsimon.com/mt-archives/2005/06/the_notbush_par.php
Be sure and read the comments too. Interesting stuff.
http://www.rogerlsimon.com/mt-archives/2005/06/the_notbush_par.php
Be sure and read the comments too. Interesting stuff.
Todays' Trivia question:
What is Paul Harveys' last name?
(It's not Harvey!)
No fair searching........if you don't know, (and I'm bettin' you don't), just admit it!
I'll give ya the answer tomorrow.
(It's not Harvey!)
No fair searching........if you don't know, (and I'm bettin' you don't), just admit it!
I'll give ya the answer tomorrow.
Embarrassing Sara Jean
Last evening we went to eat Chinese again. The restaurant closes after lunch, then re-opens at 5 P.M. for dinner. We arrived before they opened for the evening crowd, so we had time to kill and walked along the mall.
One of the shops in the mall is "The Cash Store".
Obviously, it is a short-term, high interest loan outfit.
But the name........."The Cash Store"!
I like "Cash"!
And here is a store that specializes in it!
So as we walked by, I opened the door and popped in.........
From behind a counter, three heads popped up: two female and one male.
"How can we help you?"
"I'd like to know how much cash I can get for $100?"
Puzzled look on the face of the one that offered help, followed by puzzled glances between the three..........
"Excuse me?"
"This IS 'The Cash Store', isn't it?"
"Yes".
"Then how much cash can I get for $100?"
Mind you, I'm smiling........but they don't know if I'm kidding, or just daft!
More confused glances.......
"It's a joke, folks!"
........Smiles all around. Giggles from the gals.
Sara Jean is red faced, shaking her head.
What fun!
One of the shops in the mall is "The Cash Store".
Obviously, it is a short-term, high interest loan outfit.
But the name........."The Cash Store"!
I like "Cash"!
And here is a store that specializes in it!
So as we walked by, I opened the door and popped in.........
From behind a counter, three heads popped up: two female and one male.
"How can we help you?"
"I'd like to know how much cash I can get for $100?"
Puzzled look on the face of the one that offered help, followed by puzzled glances between the three..........
"Excuse me?"
"This IS 'The Cash Store', isn't it?"
"Yes".
"Then how much cash can I get for $100?"
Mind you, I'm smiling........but they don't know if I'm kidding, or just daft!
More confused glances.......
"It's a joke, folks!"
........Smiles all around. Giggles from the gals.
Sara Jean is red faced, shaking her head.
What fun!
29 June 2005
Furious II
In my post "furious" I described my reaction when a fellow EMS Pilot got off into an area he knew nothing about when he compared Iraq to Viet Nam.
Now there is an aside to that story.........
He was on duty last night. In the wee hours, he was put on standby for a "gunshot wound to the head".
A few minutes later the flight converted and he was airborne........a 10 minute flight to the scene.
Four minutes from landing, with the red and blue lights of many emergency vehicles in sight, he was aborted..........the patient was pronounced dead.
He flew back to our base and landed.
Upon landing, the phone rang..........his girlfriend on the phone.
"Your brother just shot himself. He's dead."
Imagine the permutations of this story........
The aircraft arrives and the patient is still alive. The pilot, wanting to help his brother in whatever way he can, insists on loading him and flying him to the trauma center.
If you are the flight nurse and paramedic, do you trust the pilots' mental ability to fly under such circumstances?
If you refuse to fly because of the pilots' emotional involvement, and the patient dies because of the delay in waiting for another aircraft/ambulance, what are the legal, moral, and emotional ramifications?
I'm sure local EMS operations deal with similar circumstances, maybe not frequently, but certainly more often than we "flying ambulance" folks do.
But it's a hard question, and maybe one we should address before we have to do it under EXTREME pressure.
Now there is an aside to that story.........
He was on duty last night. In the wee hours, he was put on standby for a "gunshot wound to the head".
A few minutes later the flight converted and he was airborne........a 10 minute flight to the scene.
Four minutes from landing, with the red and blue lights of many emergency vehicles in sight, he was aborted..........the patient was pronounced dead.
He flew back to our base and landed.
Upon landing, the phone rang..........his girlfriend on the phone.
"Your brother just shot himself. He's dead."
Imagine the permutations of this story........
The aircraft arrives and the patient is still alive. The pilot, wanting to help his brother in whatever way he can, insists on loading him and flying him to the trauma center.
If you are the flight nurse and paramedic, do you trust the pilots' mental ability to fly under such circumstances?
If you refuse to fly because of the pilots' emotional involvement, and the patient dies because of the delay in waiting for another aircraft/ambulance, what are the legal, moral, and emotional ramifications?
I'm sure local EMS operations deal with similar circumstances, maybe not frequently, but certainly more often than we "flying ambulance" folks do.
But it's a hard question, and maybe one we should address before we have to do it under EXTREME pressure.
Paul Harvey
Since 1965, I've listened to "Paul Harvey News and Comment" whenever time and circumstances permitted.
He has one of those distinctly identifiable voices.
I enjoy his cadence, format, and mix of news and whimsy.
Obviously, he's not a young man. His biography doesn't list his birthdate, but does give us the kernel that "he began his radio career in 1933 while he was still in High School". A little math on that fact says that conservatively, he is 87 years old.
It is sometimes painful to hear his broadcast lately. His voice is weak, he sometimes reads copy he has already read, and he makes other simple mistakes that you know he is making because he is no longer mentally as sharp as he was.
40 years of dialing his Noon program may soon come to an end.
There will be a hole in my day when I can no longer hear him speak into that microphone.
And I think that will happen pretty soon.
If you are, or ever have been a fan of his show, you need to make a decision:
Should you start tuning him in to hear him deteriorate further, or avoid listening so you can remember him as vibrant and strong?
I can't answer the question for you, but I wanted you to be aware that one of those folks we feel we know because we have been listening for so long is coming into the "home stretch" of his career.
Paul.........for years, I have looked forward to my 15 minutes with you.
It is a tribute to say I feel I know and like you.
Thank you for giving me a little something to look forward to for all these years!
He has one of those distinctly identifiable voices.
I enjoy his cadence, format, and mix of news and whimsy.
Obviously, he's not a young man. His biography doesn't list his birthdate, but does give us the kernel that "he began his radio career in 1933 while he was still in High School". A little math on that fact says that conservatively, he is 87 years old.
It is sometimes painful to hear his broadcast lately. His voice is weak, he sometimes reads copy he has already read, and he makes other simple mistakes that you know he is making because he is no longer mentally as sharp as he was.
40 years of dialing his Noon program may soon come to an end.
There will be a hole in my day when I can no longer hear him speak into that microphone.
And I think that will happen pretty soon.
If you are, or ever have been a fan of his show, you need to make a decision:
Should you start tuning him in to hear him deteriorate further, or avoid listening so you can remember him as vibrant and strong?
I can't answer the question for you, but I wanted you to be aware that one of those folks we feel we know because we have been listening for so long is coming into the "home stretch" of his career.
Paul.........for years, I have looked forward to my 15 minutes with you.
It is a tribute to say I feel I know and like you.
Thank you for giving me a little something to look forward to for all these years!
25 June 2005
What'd you say?
After graduation from High School, my Dad helped me get a job with a construction company that was clearing the right of way for a high tension electrical power line. At this job, I operated a chain saw.
In order to derive the most power from their saws, this company routinely removed the mufflers from them.
I would come home from the job with a ringing in my ears. When I mentioned this to my folks, their comment was "your ears will soon acclimate to the noise."
I don't blame them........only a few years before, Chesterfield cigarettes were advertised as "The Healthy Smoke", and we believed that too. My folks just didn't know any better.
When I started flying turbine helicopters, (Hueys), my instructor pitched me a set of earplugs and said, "I will not allow you to fly with me unless you are wearing those!" To this day I am grateful to CW2 Bailey for that rule!
Contemporaries of mine with similar flight time in their logbooks cannot hear the telephone ring. My hearing is now beginning to fail me, but I truly believe much of my problem stems from the scar tissue caused by the muffler-less chain saws!
I keep yellow foam earplugs at our home, and will not allow Big Bubba to mow the lawn without them. He also takes them to concerts, just in case they play their music at the threshold of pain. (Kids in cars going "whumpa, whumpa, whumpa" down the road will be saying "HUH?" by the time they are 50!)
If you or a loved one is exposed to loud noise, or even moderate noise over an extended period of time.........get yourself some "mickey mouse ears", or some foam earplugs, or both.
When you can still hear your grandkids and great-grandkids talk to you, you'll be glad you did!
In order to derive the most power from their saws, this company routinely removed the mufflers from them.
I would come home from the job with a ringing in my ears. When I mentioned this to my folks, their comment was "your ears will soon acclimate to the noise."
I don't blame them........only a few years before, Chesterfield cigarettes were advertised as "The Healthy Smoke", and we believed that too. My folks just didn't know any better.
When I started flying turbine helicopters, (Hueys), my instructor pitched me a set of earplugs and said, "I will not allow you to fly with me unless you are wearing those!" To this day I am grateful to CW2 Bailey for that rule!
Contemporaries of mine with similar flight time in their logbooks cannot hear the telephone ring. My hearing is now beginning to fail me, but I truly believe much of my problem stems from the scar tissue caused by the muffler-less chain saws!
I keep yellow foam earplugs at our home, and will not allow Big Bubba to mow the lawn without them. He also takes them to concerts, just in case they play their music at the threshold of pain. (Kids in cars going "whumpa, whumpa, whumpa" down the road will be saying "HUH?" by the time they are 50!)
If you or a loved one is exposed to loud noise, or even moderate noise over an extended period of time.........get yourself some "mickey mouse ears", or some foam earplugs, or both.
When you can still hear your grandkids and great-grandkids talk to you, you'll be glad you did!
24 June 2005
Todays' Trivia:
Via Coldfury.com........
What great patriot said the following?:
“I call on those who question the motives of the president and his national security advisers to join with the rest of America in presenting a united front to our enemies abroad.”
You'll be surprised!
It was Illinois Sen. Richard (Dick!) Durbin in 1998, when President Clinton attacked Iraq!
What great patriot said the following?:
“I call on those who question the motives of the president and his national security advisers to join with the rest of America in presenting a united front to our enemies abroad.”
You'll be surprised!
It was Illinois Sen. Richard (Dick!) Durbin in 1998, when President Clinton attacked Iraq!
The Iraq Quagmire.......
From Yahoo.com news:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050623/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq;_ylt=AnD60WDHmajYyZfyObEVTeCyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
Wonder if Whiskey Ted will notice?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050623/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq;_ylt=AnD60WDHmajYyZfyObEVTeCyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
Wonder if Whiskey Ted will notice?
23 June 2005
Vertical Takeoff
Helicopters are the most amazing contraptions!
Just land in your back yard, and if necessary, you can take off vertically, right?
Nope. Not always.
In previous posts I said the Charley Model Hueys I flew in Viet Nam wouldn't hover, and we had to do "running takeoffs" to get them flying.
Here's a video of a pilot that is almost in that position. The video reportedly is from Sweden. The family of a 100 year old man bought him the helicopter ride to celebrate his birthday. Six people from his family join him on board the Russian MI-2 helicopter, so it's fairly heavy. The machine can hover close to the ground, but has trouble getting any higher.
The results are interesting:
http://svt.se/content/1/c6/40/98/01/helikopter2.asx
It's also reported the Birthday boy got two helicopter rides that day........the second in an EMS helicopter.
Happy Birthday, Grandpa!
UPDATE, 25 June:
Aviatrix, www.airplanepilot.blogspot.com , comments she would like a better explanation of what happened here.
Again, I need you to visualize for me...........
When a helicopter hovers near the ground, it draws air from above the rotor and forces it down. That "donut" of air around the main rotor then strikes the ground, moves outbound and upward, and is then re-accelerated through the rotor. It makes the rotor VERY inefficient in a hover, because the air the machine is using to support itself is already moving as it enters the rotor from above and needs to be accelerated again.
If you recall, I said once you begin forward movement with the helicopter and the rotor begins to move into un-accelerated air, the rotor becomes more efficient. That transition into clean air is called "translational lift".
A helicopter will actually fly at MUCH lower power settings than those it needs to hover. That's how we took off in Viet Nam with Gunships that were so heavy they wouldn't hover......we slid them forward on the ground, (a "running takeoff"), until the rotor was in clean air.
This pilot no doubt was trying to accelerate the helicopter through translational lift so it would have the necessary power to climb out from the tight space he was in.......and yes, that is the reason he slid sidewards and backed up before he started forward movement.........to give himself as much room as possible to accomplish that.
Unfortunately, once he started down the narrow street, he was pretty much fully committed to the takeoff run.
One more thing.......striking a few leaves will probably not damage the rotor. I suspect the rotor on this machine could have even eaten a few fairly small branches without a problem. What finally brought his effort to an end was striking a utility pole!
Just land in your back yard, and if necessary, you can take off vertically, right?
Nope. Not always.
In previous posts I said the Charley Model Hueys I flew in Viet Nam wouldn't hover, and we had to do "running takeoffs" to get them flying.
Here's a video of a pilot that is almost in that position. The video reportedly is from Sweden. The family of a 100 year old man bought him the helicopter ride to celebrate his birthday. Six people from his family join him on board the Russian MI-2 helicopter, so it's fairly heavy. The machine can hover close to the ground, but has trouble getting any higher.
The results are interesting:
http://svt.se/content/1/c6/40/98/01/helikopter2.asx
It's also reported the Birthday boy got two helicopter rides that day........the second in an EMS helicopter.
Happy Birthday, Grandpa!
UPDATE, 25 June:
Aviatrix, www.airplanepilot.blogspot.com , comments she would like a better explanation of what happened here.
Again, I need you to visualize for me...........
When a helicopter hovers near the ground, it draws air from above the rotor and forces it down. That "donut" of air around the main rotor then strikes the ground, moves outbound and upward, and is then re-accelerated through the rotor. It makes the rotor VERY inefficient in a hover, because the air the machine is using to support itself is already moving as it enters the rotor from above and needs to be accelerated again.
If you recall, I said once you begin forward movement with the helicopter and the rotor begins to move into un-accelerated air, the rotor becomes more efficient. That transition into clean air is called "translational lift".
A helicopter will actually fly at MUCH lower power settings than those it needs to hover. That's how we took off in Viet Nam with Gunships that were so heavy they wouldn't hover......we slid them forward on the ground, (a "running takeoff"), until the rotor was in clean air.
This pilot no doubt was trying to accelerate the helicopter through translational lift so it would have the necessary power to climb out from the tight space he was in.......and yes, that is the reason he slid sidewards and backed up before he started forward movement.........to give himself as much room as possible to accomplish that.
Unfortunately, once he started down the narrow street, he was pretty much fully committed to the takeoff run.
One more thing.......striking a few leaves will probably not damage the rotor. I suspect the rotor on this machine could have even eaten a few fairly small branches without a problem. What finally brought his effort to an end was striking a utility pole!
Furious
As I write this, I'm as angry as I have been in years.
I just had a discussion with the outgoing pilot about the war.
This guy has never shot, or had a shot fired at him in anger......and he brought up the Viet Nam war.
Gasoline on an open flame.........
This guy voted for Kerry. That's all you need to know about him.
But here is the game plan folks, and I don't know how Teddy and his friends are gonna pull it off, unless we start drinking the same stuff, and the same amount Senator Kennedy drinks:
"We support our troops, but.......
The war is unwinnable. Bush has us involved in a quagmire. We need to set a date.....sooner is better than later, and bring our troops home."
Four thousand seven hundred folks dead, and what do we accomplish?
We teach the rest of the world that we have no stomach for defending ourselves.......come do it again!
In Viet Nam, the number was 58,000. Some were like brothers to me. When I have had too much of Teddy the lushes favorite brew, I'm sometimes reduced to tears about them.
I will fight like a Wolverine to insure that never happens again!
Put that in the bank!
I just had a discussion with the outgoing pilot about the war.
This guy has never shot, or had a shot fired at him in anger......and he brought up the Viet Nam war.
Gasoline on an open flame.........
This guy voted for Kerry. That's all you need to know about him.
But here is the game plan folks, and I don't know how Teddy and his friends are gonna pull it off, unless we start drinking the same stuff, and the same amount Senator Kennedy drinks:
"We support our troops, but.......
The war is unwinnable. Bush has us involved in a quagmire. We need to set a date.....sooner is better than later, and bring our troops home."
Four thousand seven hundred folks dead, and what do we accomplish?
We teach the rest of the world that we have no stomach for defending ourselves.......come do it again!
In Viet Nam, the number was 58,000. Some were like brothers to me. When I have had too much of Teddy the lushes favorite brew, I'm sometimes reduced to tears about them.
I will fight like a Wolverine to insure that never happens again!
Put that in the bank!
The Right to Life, Liberty..........
And the pursuit of happiness?
Well, maybe not!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/23/AR2005062300783_pf.html
Is this the reason there is a 2nd Amendment to the Constitution?
Thomas Jefferson, where are you?
Well, maybe not!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/23/AR2005062300783_pf.html
Is this the reason there is a 2nd Amendment to the Constitution?
Thomas Jefferson, where are you?
The Wild Goose Chase
I've been outta the loop for a couple days on a special job that I'll write more about later.
Neat work, but dangerous.
Watch this space!
Neat work, but dangerous.
Watch this space!
20 June 2005
Gitmo again
It's all the talk on NPR this morning.
I have a question for those that think we should close the prison there........
Why are you not petitioning to have it in your back yard?
Start today!
Question #2..........
Have you seen the video of Nick Berg being beheaded?
"OH NO, I don't think I could stand to watch!"
I've seen it. Anyone that could do that to another human being is pure EVIL.
I would argue you cannot know the full character of our enemy until you have seen that video in full! It's impossible to discuss the issue of the war intelligently until you really know what we are dealing with.
It's available on the internet.
Go now.......
watch it in it's entirety.
When you're done, come back and we'll have an informed, intelligent discussion!
I have a question for those that think we should close the prison there........
Why are you not petitioning to have it in your back yard?
Start today!
Question #2..........
Have you seen the video of Nick Berg being beheaded?
"OH NO, I don't think I could stand to watch!"
I've seen it. Anyone that could do that to another human being is pure EVIL.
I would argue you cannot know the full character of our enemy until you have seen that video in full! It's impossible to discuss the issue of the war intelligently until you really know what we are dealing with.
It's available on the internet.
Go now.......
watch it in it's entirety.
When you're done, come back and we'll have an informed, intelligent discussion!
19 June 2005
CNN Abandoning its' Audience?
CNN President Jonathan Klein has a novel idea to compete with Fox News...............give us news that will actually keep us awake!
From MSNBC.com:
"These are only the first steps in a broad overhaul plan aimed at getting the pioneering and once dominant cable news network out of a seemingly perennial second-place finish, far behind Fox News. His unorthodox, even heretical game plan: serious news that doesn't put viewers to sleep."
Here's the article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8272375/site/newsweek/
Now, here is the question.......will MSNBC then move to fill the vacuum if CNN actually starts reporting facts?
Can we depend on MSNBC to provide coverage of our soldiers targeting/murdering journalists?
What will we do........
what WILL we do?
From MSNBC.com:
"These are only the first steps in a broad overhaul plan aimed at getting the pioneering and once dominant cable news network out of a seemingly perennial second-place finish, far behind Fox News. His unorthodox, even heretical game plan: serious news that doesn't put viewers to sleep."
Here's the article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8272375/site/newsweek/
Now, here is the question.......will MSNBC then move to fill the vacuum if CNN actually starts reporting facts?
Can we depend on MSNBC to provide coverage of our soldiers targeting/murdering journalists?
What will we do........
what WILL we do?
Apologies
When is an apology not an apology?
This is an example of an apology:
"I said a really stupid thing, and reflecting on how stupid I was, I realize I hurt a bunch of folks, maybe even got a few killed. For that I am truly sorry. I have learned from my mistake and will not do it again."
Now, the non-apology:
"I'm sorry if anyone was offended by my remarks. I realize now that my comments could have been misunderstood by some not-so-smart people."
I'm talking about Richard (DICK!) Durbin and Jane Fonda here.
As a Viet Nam veteran, I could easily hate Jane Fonda.
I don't.
I think she was a chameleon that took on the colors of whatever man she happened to have in her life at the time, and her man at the time of the "anti-aircraft gun in North Viet Nam" incident was liberal "bomb thrower" Tom Hayden.
And although she issued us a "non-apology", I forgive her.
She's a lightweight.
She doesn't know any better.
Durbin is another story. His impolitic speech starts us down the path of the "self fulfilling prophecy" that some Democrats seem to look forward to.........Iraq as Viet Nam!
I received an email from a loved one last week with this comment: "Bush has us in an unwinnable war."
Well, folks, Iraq is NOT like Viet Nam, unless we allow ourselve to be drawn into this negative "cut our losses and run" mentality!
I would agree she is correct in one sense........we cannot win the war in Iraq..........by ourselves. But we can insure Iraqi forces are strengthened enough to take on terrorists and win it, with our support.
Viet Nam vets know this better than anyone else. In spite of negative comments from Democrats and major news media sources, we see progress in Iraq that is spreading throughout the Middle East!
We will not allow naysayers to deny these gains, nor put our troops at risk by aiding and abetting the enemy. (Watch how veterans vote in the '06 elections!)
In the meantime, Let's hope we hear a genuine apology from the misguided Senator from Illinois!
This is an example of an apology:
"I said a really stupid thing, and reflecting on how stupid I was, I realize I hurt a bunch of folks, maybe even got a few killed. For that I am truly sorry. I have learned from my mistake and will not do it again."
Now, the non-apology:
"I'm sorry if anyone was offended by my remarks. I realize now that my comments could have been misunderstood by some not-so-smart people."
I'm talking about Richard (DICK!) Durbin and Jane Fonda here.
As a Viet Nam veteran, I could easily hate Jane Fonda.
I don't.
I think she was a chameleon that took on the colors of whatever man she happened to have in her life at the time, and her man at the time of the "anti-aircraft gun in North Viet Nam" incident was liberal "bomb thrower" Tom Hayden.
And although she issued us a "non-apology", I forgive her.
She's a lightweight.
She doesn't know any better.
Durbin is another story. His impolitic speech starts us down the path of the "self fulfilling prophecy" that some Democrats seem to look forward to.........Iraq as Viet Nam!
I received an email from a loved one last week with this comment: "Bush has us in an unwinnable war."
Well, folks, Iraq is NOT like Viet Nam, unless we allow ourselve to be drawn into this negative "cut our losses and run" mentality!
I would agree she is correct in one sense........we cannot win the war in Iraq..........by ourselves. But we can insure Iraqi forces are strengthened enough to take on terrorists and win it, with our support.
Viet Nam vets know this better than anyone else. In spite of negative comments from Democrats and major news media sources, we see progress in Iraq that is spreading throughout the Middle East!
We will not allow naysayers to deny these gains, nor put our troops at risk by aiding and abetting the enemy. (Watch how veterans vote in the '06 elections!)
In the meantime, Let's hope we hear a genuine apology from the misguided Senator from Illinois!
18 June 2005
Influence
If I was a Catholic, (I am not), I would be furious with my church for being co-dependent in the abuse that has been made public in recent years.
Did I hear the figure right.........over a BILLION dollars to defend priests and settle the claims of those abused families?
Seems to me, parishoners had two choices here:
1. Vote with my feet and leave the church,
2. Continue to attend services, but withhold my tithe.
And apparently both are happening........several Catholic churches in the large town near us are being closed due to lack of support, and donations being received by Catholic churches are way, way down:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1923484.stm
It's obvious that members of the church have the attention of their leadership.
Today, we have a similar situation with the United Nations...............
U.N. representatives have been caught sexually abusing children in areas where they were sent to provide aid and comfort.
The Iraqi "Oil For Food" program was a farce.........moneys intended to buy food and drugs for struggling Iraqi people ended up in the pockets of Russian, French, and German U.N. employees.
I have to believe the corruption brought about by mismanagement of this program is at the core of much of the tension surrounding our efforts in Iraq today........
Is it just a coincidence those countries most heavily involved in the scandal were the same countries that refused to support the U.S. with a unanimous vote for regime change in Iraq?
The House of Representatives yesterday voted to withhold half of the funds we normally allocate for support of the U.N..
I know next to nothing about our relationship with the U.N., such as it is today........it seems strained and ready to burst.
But I do know that I don't want my tax dollars going into the pocket of some U.N. pervert who, in his free time, is sexually molesting some 9 year old in Darfur!
This bill has little chance of making it to the Presidents' desk as it is presently written.
But the vote itself may attract enough attention at the U.N. to force leadership and other changes in that diseased and decomposing body.
Did I hear the figure right.........over a BILLION dollars to defend priests and settle the claims of those abused families?
Seems to me, parishoners had two choices here:
1. Vote with my feet and leave the church,
2. Continue to attend services, but withhold my tithe.
And apparently both are happening........several Catholic churches in the large town near us are being closed due to lack of support, and donations being received by Catholic churches are way, way down:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1923484.stm
It's obvious that members of the church have the attention of their leadership.
Today, we have a similar situation with the United Nations...............
U.N. representatives have been caught sexually abusing children in areas where they were sent to provide aid and comfort.
The Iraqi "Oil For Food" program was a farce.........moneys intended to buy food and drugs for struggling Iraqi people ended up in the pockets of Russian, French, and German U.N. employees.
I have to believe the corruption brought about by mismanagement of this program is at the core of much of the tension surrounding our efforts in Iraq today........
Is it just a coincidence those countries most heavily involved in the scandal were the same countries that refused to support the U.S. with a unanimous vote for regime change in Iraq?
The House of Representatives yesterday voted to withhold half of the funds we normally allocate for support of the U.N..
I know next to nothing about our relationship with the U.N., such as it is today........it seems strained and ready to burst.
But I do know that I don't want my tax dollars going into the pocket of some U.N. pervert who, in his free time, is sexually molesting some 9 year old in Darfur!
This bill has little chance of making it to the Presidents' desk as it is presently written.
But the vote itself may attract enough attention at the U.N. to force leadership and other changes in that diseased and decomposing body.
17 June 2005
Howard Dean II
Can ya stand another Armadillo post?
Well, sort of an Armadillo post, anyway!
http://dennisthepeasant.typepad.com/dennis_the_peasant/2005/06/dennis_daytime_.html
Don't Republicans have fun, Mr Dean?
"Yeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
Well, sort of an Armadillo post, anyway!
http://dennisthepeasant.typepad.com/dennis_the_peasant/2005/06/dennis_daytime_.html
Don't Republicans have fun, Mr Dean?
"Yeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh!"
Gunship pics:
Neat!
I was trying to find a representation of the Charley model Huey gunship I flew in Viet Nam, and I came across this site..........
Jim Morris was in the same unit I was in at a later date.
His site has a pic of a Cobra and a
UH-1C gunship that I probably actually flew.
There is also a pic of the "Gambler Guns" logo I wore for a while.
If you're interested, have a look:
http://www.armyflightschool.org/vietnam/bcompany.htm
Thanks, Jim!
I was trying to find a representation of the Charley model Huey gunship I flew in Viet Nam, and I came across this site..........
Jim Morris was in the same unit I was in at a later date.
His site has a pic of a Cobra and a
UH-1C gunship that I probably actually flew.
There is also a pic of the "Gambler Guns" logo I wore for a while.
If you're interested, have a look:
http://www.armyflightschool.org/vietnam/bcompany.htm
Thanks, Jim!
16 June 2005
Huh?
Would you believe........a Lion Tamer afraid of housecats?
Well, this is ALMOST that bad!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1655810,00.html
And, "The right calibre for the job"..........old joke!
Well, this is ALMOST that bad!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1655810,00.html
And, "The right calibre for the job"..........old joke!
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